ADDRESS

Sun Yat-sen University Institute of Advanced Study Hong Kong 5F, Building 16E, Science Park, Science Park E Ave,Hong Kong S.A.R 

Email: lssxal@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Phone:(852) 62328757

 

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

1992:PhD, Polymorphism of the β1 domain of bovine DQB and DRB genes and their relationship to bovine leukaemia virus infection. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

1990:M. S., Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of bovine MHC DQβ cDNA. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

1985:B.S., The synthesis of nucleic acids during the germination of peanut. Zhongshan (Sun Yatsen) University, Guangzhou, China.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

July 24 –PresentDean, Sun Yat-sen University Institute of Advanced Study, Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R

Jan.13– Present: Professor, College of Life Science,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P. R. China.

Jan., 13–Apr, 24:President of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P. R. China.

Mar, 08–Jan, 13Vice-President for Research and Development,Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou, P. R. China.

Jan., 00 –Dec., 08:Dean, College of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen(Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, P. R.China.

July, 97–Dec., 99: Chairman, Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.

July, 96– Present: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.

July, 94 –July, 96: Research Scientist, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp., San Diego, CA.

July, 92 – July, 94: Postdoctoral research under the supervision of Dr. Helen M. Ranney (Member of US National Academy, Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego). In these two years, I had a one-year joint appointment as a visiting research scientist at the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation.

Sept., 86 – June, 92: Graduate Research Assistant in Immunogenetics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sept., 86 – June, 87: Graduate Fellowship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Aug., 85 – Aug., 86: Research Fellow, Centre for Biotechnology in Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China.

May, 84 – May 85: Undergraduate Research Assistant, plant physiology, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China.

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • 2025 Award of the Honorary Doctorate in Experimental Medicine by Sapienza University of Rome

  • 2023 Cheung On Tak International Award  for Outstanding  Contribution to  Chinese  Medicine of HONG KONG Baptist University

  • 2021 the "Qi-Huang Scholar Program" (Integrated Medicine) was established by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

  • 2021,the 14th "Tan Jiazhen Life Science Achievement Award"

  • 2021 the first prize of the Beijing Higher Education Teaching Achievement Award

  • 2018 Award of the Honorary Doctorate by Western Sydney University, Australia

  • 2018 Award of the Honorary Doctorate by Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan

  • 2017 First Prize of Science and Technology Award of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association

  • 2016 the "Ten Major Advances in the Field of Life Sciences in China"

  • 2016 one of "The Top Ten Medical News Figures in China"

  • 2014 one of the first batches of technological innovation leaders in the "National High-Level Personnel of Special Support Program"

  • 2013, "Innovation teams in key areas of the Innovation Talent Promotion Plan" by the Ministry of Science and Technology

  • 2012 the second  prize of the National Natural Science Award

  • 2012 Guangdong one hundred outstanding talent training project 

  • 2012 Guangzhou Second Ten outstanding returned overseas students creative talents

  • 2010 one of the "Ten major scientific and technological progresses of China's colleges and Universities"

  • 2008 First prize for outstanding achievements in the National Development and Reform Commission Award

  • 2005, 2008, and 2018 Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Award first prize

  • 2005 Ministry of Education for the national awards for science and technology invention award, first prize

  • 2004  New Century Talents Project national candidates

  • 2003  Chinese Outstanding Young Scientist Innovation Award(Total 10 in China).

  • 2000 the government special allowance was issued by the State Council

  • 1998  Outstanding Young Scientist (also Premier) Award of China.

  • 1997 the "National Outstanding Youth Fund"

  • 1997  Guangdong Excellent Young Scholar Award

  • 1992.   GAMMA SIGMA DELTA, the honour society.

  • 1986-87 Fellowship for Studying in the United States awarded by the Guangdong Government, Guangdong Province, China.

  • 1981-85 Excellent Student Award, every academic year, Zhongshan University.

 

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES (present):

  • Vice President of the China Association of Chinese Medicine

  • vice chairman of the National Steering Committee for Graduate Education of Traditional Chinese Medicineand Chinese Pharmacy

  • Chairman of the Steering Committee of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Teaching of the Ministry of Education

  • Vice President of the Chinese Society for Immunology

  • Chairman, Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness for the People's Council of the United Nations 

 

CURRENT RESEARCH:

  1. Focus on the functional genomics for understanding the origin and evolution of the vertebrate immune system

  2. discovering new drugs based on fundamental research

 

PUBLICATIONS（selected from more than 200 papers）：

  1. Yuan S, Dong X, Tao X, Xu L, Ruan J, Peng J, Xu A*. Emergence of the A20/ABIN-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signaling via modifying the ubiquitinated proteins in a basal chordate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. May 2014;111(18):6720-5.

  2. Huang G, Huang S, Yan X, Yang P, Li J, Xu W, Zhang L, Wang R, Yu Y, Yuan S, Chen S, Luo G, Xu A*. Two apextrin-like proteins mediate extracellular and intracellular bacterial recognition in amphioxus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Sep 2014;111(37):13469-74.

  3. Yuan K, Chen J, Xu A*. Tofacitinib versus methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis.  N Engl J Med. Sep 2014; 371(12):1163-4.

  4. Yuan K, Chen J, Li T, Xu A*. Paying attention to the preciseness of conclusion. Ann Rheum Dis. Nov 2014; 73(11):e66.

  5. Wang Y,Xu A*. Zheng: A systems biology approach to diagnosis and treatments. SCIENCE. Dec 2014; 346 (6216) S13-S15. （Note：This is a peer-reviewed paper in the special issue on "The Art and Science of Traditional Medicine" Produced by the Science/AAAS Custom Publishing Office）

  6. Huang S, Chen Z, Yan X, Yu T, Huang G, Yan Q, Pontarotti PA, Zhao H, Li J, Yang P, Wang R, Li R, Tao X, Deng T, Wang Y, Li G, Zhang Q, Zhou S, You L, Yuan S, Fu Y, Wu F, Dong M, Chen S, Xu A*. Decelerated genome evolution in modern vertebrates revealed by analysis of multiple lancelet genomes. Nat Commun. 2014 Dec 19; 5:5896.

  7. Yuan S, Zheng T, Li P, Yang R, Ruan J, Huang S, Wu Z, and Xu A*. Characterization of Amphioxus IFN Regulatory Factor Family Reveals an Archaic Signaling Framework for Innate Immune Response.J Immunol. 2015 Dec 15;195(12):5657-66. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501927. Epub 2015 Nov 16.

  8. Peng J, Tao X, Li R, Hu J, Ruan J, Wang R, Yang M, Yang R, Dong X, Chen S, Xu A, Yuan S. Novel Toll/IL-1 Receptor Homologous Region Adaptors Act as Negative Regulators in Amphioxus TLR Signaling. J Immunol. 2015 Oct 1;195(7):3110-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403003. Epub 2015 Aug 31.

  9. Huang S, Tao X, Yuan S, Zhang Y, Li P, Helen A Beilinson, Zhang Y, Yu W, Pierre Pontarotti, Yan Le Petillon, Hector Escriva, Liu X, Chen S, David G Schatz; Xu A*. Discovery of an active RAG transposon illuminates the origins of V(D)J recombination. Cell. 2016 Jun 30; 166(1):102-14.

  10. Jia X, Yuan S, Wang Y, Fu Y, Ge Y, Ge Y, Lan X, Feng Y, Qiu F, Li P, Chen S, Xu A*.The role of alternative polyadenylation in the antiviral innate immune response.Nat Commun. 2017 Feb 24; 8:14605.

  11. Wu F, Feng B, Ren Y, Wu D, Chen Y, Huang S, Chen S, Xu A*. A pore-forming protein implements VLR-activated complement cytotoxicity in lamprey. Cell Discov. 2017 Sep 19; 3:17033.

  12. Fu Y, Chen L, Chen C, Ge Y, Kang M, Song Z, Li J, Feng Y, Huo Z, He G, Hou M, Chen S, Xu A*. Crosstalk between alternative polyadenylation and miRNA in regulation of protein translational efficiency. Genome Res. 2018 Nov; 28(11):1656-1663.

  13. Wu F, Wu D, Ren Y, Huang Y, Feng B, Zhao N, Zhang T, Chen X, Chen S, Xu A*. Generation of hepatobiliary organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells. J Hepatol. 2019 Jun; 70(6):1145-1158.

  14. Yuan K, Huang G, Sang X, Xu A*. Baricitinib for systemic lupus erythematosus. Lancet. 2019 Feb 2; 393(10170):402.

  15. Zhang Y, Cheng TC, Huang G, Lu Q, Surleac MD, Mandell JD, Pontarotti P, Petrescu AJ,Xu A*, Xiong Y*,Schatz DG*. Transposon molecular domestication and the evolution of the RAG recombinase. Nature. 2019 May; 569(7754):79-84.

  16. Ruan J, Cao Y, Ling T, Li P, Wu S, Peng D, Wang Y, Jia X, Chen S, Xu A*, Yuan S *. DDX23, an Evolutionary Conserved dsRNA Sensor, Participates in Innate Antiviral Responses by Pairing With TRIF or MAVS. Front Immunol. 2019 Sep 18;10:2202. eCollection 2019.

  17. Wang Y, Yuan S, Jia X, Ge Y, Ling T, Nie M, Lan X, Chen S, Xu A*. Mitochondria-localised ZNFX1 functions as a dsRNA sensor to initiate antiviral responses through MAVS. Nat Cell Biol. 2019 Nov; 21(11):1346-1356.

  18. Tao X, Yuan S, Chen F, Gao X, Wang X, Yu W, Liu S, Huang Z, Chen S, Xu A*. Functional Requirement of Terminal Inverted Repeats for Efficient ProtoRAG Activity Reveals the Early Evolution of V(D)J Recombination. Natl Sci Rev. 2020 Feb;7(2):403-417.

  19. Liu S, Yuan S*, Gao X, Tao X, Yu W, Li X, Chen S, Xu A*. Functional regulation of an ancestral RAG transposon ProtoRAG by a trans-acting factor YY1 in lancelet. Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 9;11(1):4515.

  20. Sun L, Wan Arabella , Zhou Z , Chen D, Liang H, Liu C, Yan S, Niu Y, Lin Z, Zhan S, Wang S, Bu X, He W,LuX*, Xu A*,WanG* . RNA-binding protein RALY reprogrammes mitochondrial metabolism via mediating miRNA processing in colorectal cancer. Gut. 2020 Nov 20;gutjnl-2020-320652.

  21. Li J, Li Y, Fan Z, Chen S, Yan X, Yue Z, Huang G, Liu S, Zhang H, Chen S, Dong M , Xu A*,Huang S*. Two Amphioxus ApeC-Containing Proteins Bind to Microbes and Inhibit the TRAF6 Pathway. Front Immunol. 2021 Jul 30;12:715245.

  22. Wang P, Guo W, Huang G, Zhen J, Li Y, Li T, Zhao L, Yuan K, Tian X, Huang X, Feng Y, Lei H*, Xu A*. Berberine-Based Heterogeneous Linear Supramolecules Neutralized the Acute Nephrotoxicity of Aristolochic Acid by the Self-Assembly Strategy. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2021 Jul 21;13(28):32729-32742.

  23. Ge Y, Ling T, Wang Y, Jia X, Xie X, Chen R, Chen S, Yuan S*, Xu A*. Degradation of WTAP blocks antiviral responses by reducing the m6 A levels of IRF3 and IFNAR1 mRNA. EMBO Rep. 2021 Nov 4;22(11):e52101.

  24. Liu W, HuangG, Rui H, Geng J, Hu H, Huang Y, Huo G, Liu B*, Xu A*. Course monitoring of membranous nephropathy: Both autoantibodies and podocytes require multidimensional attention. Autoimmun Rev. 2022 Feb;21(2):102976.

  25. ChenY, Luo L, Deng L, Tian X, Chen S, Xu A*, Yuan S*. New insights into the lineage-specific expansion and functional diversification of lamprey AID/APOBEC family. Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 11;13:822616.

  26. Tao X, Huang Z, Chen F, Wang X, Zheng T, Yuan S*, Xu A*. The RAG key to vertebrate adaptive immunity descended directly from a bacterial ancestor. Natl Sci Rev. 2022 Apr 18;9(8):nwac073. eCollection 2022 Aug.

  27. Li H, Wu F, Huang G, Wu D, Wang T, Wang X, Wang K, Feng Y, Xu A*. Cardiomyocytes induced from hiPSCs by well-defined compounds have therapeutic potential in heart failure by secreting PDGF-BB. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022 Jul 29;7(1):253.

  28. Hu Z, Li M, Huo Z, Chen L, Liu S, Deng K, Lu X, Chen S, Fu Y*, Xu A*. U1 snRNP proteins promote proximal alternative polyadenylation sites by directly interacting with 3' end processing core factors. J Mol Cell Biol. 2022 Dec 26; 14(8):mjac054.

  29. Chen L, Fu Y, Hu Z, Deng K, Song Z, Liu S, Li M, Ou X, Wu R, Liu M, Li R, Gao S, Cheng L, Chen S,Xu A*. Nuclear m6 A reader YTHDC1 suppresses proximal alternative polyadenylation sites by interfering with the 3' processing machinery. EMBO Rep. 2022 Nov 7;23(11):e54686. Epub 2022 Sep 12.

  30. Li J, Liu S, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Zhang H, OuYang J, Mao F, Fan H, Yi W, Dong M, Xu A*, Huang S*. Two novel mollusk short-form ApeC-containing proteins act as pattern recognition proteins for peptidoglycan. Front Immunol. 2022 Oct 7; 13:971883.

  31. Yue Z, Fan Z, Zhang H, Feng B, Wu C, Chen S, Ouyang J, Fan H, Weng P, Feng H, Chen S, Dong M, Xu A*, Huang S*. Differential roles of the fish chitinous membrane in gut barrier immunity and digestive compartments. EMBO Rep. 2023 Apr 5;24(4):e56645.

  32. Wang X, Wei X, Lu Y, Wang Q, Fu R, Wang Y, Wang Q, Wang X, Chen S, Xu A*,Yuan S*. Characterization of GSDME in amphioxus provides insights into the functional evolution of GSDM-mediated pyroptosis. PLoS Biol. 2023 May 3;21(5):e3002062. eCollection 2023 May.

  33. Liu W, HuangG, LiuB, HuH, Geng J, Rui H, Gao C, Huang Y, Huo G, Mao J, Lu C, Xu A*. Single cell landscape of parietal epithelial cells in healthy and diseased states. Kidney Int. 2023 Apr 24;S0085-2538(23)00267-3.

  34. Feng W, Wang Y, Luo T, Jia X, Cheng C, Wang H, Zhang M, Li Q, Wang X, Li Y, Wang J, Huang G, Wang T, Xu A*. Scoparone suppresses mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2023 Jun;44(6):1238-1251.

  35. Li J, Liu S, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Zhang H, OuYang J, Mao F, Fan H, Yi W, Dong M, Xu A*, Huang S*. Two novel mollusk short-form ApeC-containing proteins act as pattern recognition proteins for peptidoglycan. Front Immunol. 2022 Oct 7; 13:971883.

  36. Jia X, Zhang M, Wang H, Cheng C, Li Q, Li Y, Kong L, Lan X, Wang Y, Liang X, Yuan S*, Wang Y*, Xu A*. ZNFX1 antisense RNA1 promotes antiviral innate immune responses via modulating ZNFX1 function. J Med Virol. 2023 Mar;95(3):e28637.

  37. Li H, Wang T, Feng Y, Sun K, Huang G, Cao Y, Xu A*. Optimal transplantation strategy using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for acute myocardial infarction in nonhuman primates. MedComm (2020). 2023 Jun 7;4(3):e289. eCollection 2023 Jun.

  38. Liu S, Wu R, Chen L, Deng K, Ou X, Lu X, Li M, Liu C, Chen S, Fu Y*, Xu A*. CPSF6 regulates alternative polyadenylation and proliferation of cancer cells through phase separation. Cell Rep. 2023 Oct 31;42(10):113197.

  39. Hu Z, Li M, Chen Y, Chen L, Han Y, Chen C, Lu X, You N, Lou Y, Huang Y, Huo Z, Liu C, Liang C, Liu S, Deng K, Chen L, Chen S, Wan G, Wu X*, Fu Y*, Xu A *. Disruption of PABPN1 phase separation by SNRPD2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration through promoting alternative polyadenylation of CTNNBIP1. Sci China Life Sci.2024 Jun;67(6):1212-1225.

  40. Zhang M, Jia X, Cheng C, Wang Y, Li Y, Kong L, Li Q, Xie F, Yu Y, He Y, Dong Q, Jia Z, Wang Y*, Xu A*. Capsaicin functions as a selective degrader of STAT3 to enhance host resistance to viral infection. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2023 Nov;44(11):2253-2264.

  41. Chen S, Fan H, Ran C, Hong Y, Feng H, Yue Z, Zhang H, Pierre Pontarotti, Xu A*, Huang S*. The IL-17 pathway intertwines with neurotrophin and TLR/IL-1R pathways since its domain shuffling origin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 May 7;121(19):e2400903121.

  42. Ge Y, Chen R, Ling T, Liu B, Huang J, Cheng Y, Lin Y, Chen H, Xie X, Xia G, Luo G, Yuan* S, Xu A*. Elevated WTAP promotes hyperinflammation by increasing m6A modification in inflammatory disease models. J Clin Invest. 2024 May 16;134(14):e177932.

  43. Xu A*, Zhi Y. Immune states: integrated views of immunity by combining traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine. Sci China Life Sci. 2024 Jul 5. doi: 10.1007/s11427-024-2614-7.

  44. Liang X, Liu K, Jia X , Cheng C, Zhang M, KongL, Li Q, Liu Z, Li M, Li J, Wang Y *, Xu An*. Suppressing FXR promotes antiviral effects of bile acids via enhancing the interferon transcription. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2024 Aug;14(8):3513-3527.

  45. Huang J, Wang Y*, Jia X, Zhao C, Zhang M, Bao M, Fu P, Cheng C, Shi R, Zhang X, Cui J, Wan G*, Xu A*. The human disease-associated gene ZNFX1 controls inflammation through inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome. EMBO J. 2024 Nov; 43(22):5469-5493.

  46. Ruan J,Wei X,Li S,Ye Z,Hu L,Zhuang R,Cao Y,Wang S,Wu S,Cheng S, Yuan S*, Xu A *. Apaf-1 is an evolutionarily conserved DNA sensor that switches the cell fate between apoptosis and inflammation. Cell Discov. 2025 Jan 21;11(1):4. doi: 10.1038/s41421-024-00750-4.

  47. Lu X, Liu C, Wu R, Hu Z, Liu S, Li X, Liu Y, Li M, Liang J, Huang Y, Han Y, Ou X, Deng K, Liang C, Chen S, Fu Y *, Xu A*. E3 ligase SYVN1-mediated polyubiquitination of CPSF6 promotes alternative polyadenylation and antivirus effects of macrophages. Cell Rep. 2025 Feb 13;44(2):115276.

  48. Mengxia Li, Zhijie Hu, Yingye Huang, Yuting Han, Cheng Liang, Yuchi Liu, Runze Wu, Xin Lu, Ke Deng, Susu Liu, Xin Ou, Yuwei Li, Chao Liu, Xuening Li, Jingting Liang, Yonggui Fu*, Anlong Xu*.BiFC and FACS-based CRISPR screening revealed that QKI promotes PABPN1 LLPS in colorectal cancer cells. Protein Cell. 2025 Mar 7:pwaf022. doi: 10.1093/procel/pwaf022. Online ahead of print.